Business
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 33% (Resident) or varies between 0-30% (Non-resident based on treaties)
- Tax System
- Taxation based on residency; permanent residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 39% (for income over $180,000 NZD)
- VAT
- 15% (Known as GST - Goods and Services Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, New Zealand has comprehensive CFC rules to prevent tax avoidance
- Property Tax
- No stamp duty, but annual Council Rates (approx. $2,800 - $4,500 NZD/year)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Bright-line Property Rule (Tax on gains if sold within a specific timeframe)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 4-year temporary tax exemption on foreign income for new migrants
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000 NZD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $240,000 NZD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $468,000 NZD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $330,000 NZD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $576,000 NZD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $416,000 NZD)
- Corporate Tax
- 28%
Essentials
- Population
- Approximately 58,000
- Internet Speed
- Fiber is widely available reaching up to 900 Mbps; average WiFi is 120 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD). 1 NZD ≈ 0.61 USD, 1 USD ≈ 1.64 NZD
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable directly from the tap town-wide
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I (three-pin flat plug)
- SIM Card
- Spark, Vodafone (One NZ), and 2degrees; 10GB data plan approx. $45 NZD
- Banking for Expats
- ANZ, ASB, and BNZ; Revolut and Wise are widely used for low-fee transfers
- Accommodation
- Luxury hotels like King and Queen Hotel, mid-range Airbnbs, and coastal motels
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely; EFTPOS and contactless pay are used for almost all transactions
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Bookabach are the primary platforms for monthly stays
- Budget Accommodation
- Ariki Backpackers (approx. $35 NZD for dorm, $85 NZD for private)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- CBD (Central Business District) for proximity to the Coastal Walkway and Pukekura Park
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Fitzroy or Strandon; walkable to beaches, trendy cafes, and surf breaks
- City
- New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Manifold Coworking Space (21 Devon Street West); Day pass $40 NZD, Monthly $450 NZD
- Best Cafe for Work
- Federal Store (Strandon) or Ozone Coffee Roasters (CBD); both offer great WiFi and ample seating
- Networking Events
- Taranaki Chamber of Commerce BizBites and Business After Five (BA5) events
- Social Events for Expats
- New Plymouth Expats Facebook Group; Friday night drinks at The Hour Glass
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited availability) and New Plymouth Taxis (+64 6 757 3000)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Cycle Inn on Devon Street; E-bike rentals approx. $80 NZD per day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Fitzroy Beach (surf-friendly) and Back Beach (scenic dunes)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air New Zealand Link (flights to Auckland and Wellington)
- Top International Airline
- Air New Zealand, Qantas (via Auckland International Airport)
- Highway Access
- State Highway 3 connects North to Hamilton and South to Whanganui
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ariki Street Bus Terminus (InterCity bus connections; no passenger rail)
- Public Transport Passes
- Bee Card; $2.00 NZD flat fare for inner-city travel with the card
- Regional Travel
- InterCity Bus for long-distance; driving via Surf Highway 45 is recommended
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Taranaki Base Hospital (David Street, Westown)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Space (CBD) and Sanctuary Hill Retreat (New Plymouth outskirts)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Cityfitness (New Plymouth Centre) and Frontrunner Taranaki for running clinics
- Laundry Services
- Liquid Self Service Laundromats (Courtenay Street); approx. $5 per wash
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Delivereasy and DoorDash are the primary operators
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Fresh Taranaki Snapper or Bluff Oysters (seasonal) at Catch 22
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Wild Pear Kitchen (146 Devon Street East) - 100% plant-based
- Best Dessert Spots
- Gusto Restaurant for Italian gelato and Theory Food for artisan cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pak'nSave New Plymouth for the lowest grocery prices city-wide
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Trade Me (local version of eBay) and Mighty Ape
- Grocery Delivery
- Woolworths (Countdown) Online and HelloFresh NZ
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The West End Precinct (Devon St West) featuring Ms White and Itch Wine Bar
- Local Brewery
- Shining Peak Brewing (59 Gill Street); try the Highwayman APA
- Wine Bars
- Itch Wine Bar (West End Precinct) specializing in NZ boutique wines
- Street Food Stalls
- The Seaside Market at Ngamotu Beach (First Sunday of the month)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Social Kitchen (South American/Shared plates) and Marbles (Buffet/Classic)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Len Lye Centre (Govett-Brewster Art Gallery) and Mount Taranaki
- Museums & Art Venues
- Puke Ariki (Museum, Library, and Information Centre on the waterfront)
- Historical Sites
- Richmond Cottage and the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge architectures
- Religious Sites
- Taranaki Cathedral St Mary's (oldest stone church in NZ)
- Annual Events
- WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) in March and Festival of Lights (Dec-Feb)
- Cultural Districts
- The West End Precinct (Art and Gastronomy heart)
- Theater Venues
- TSB Showplace (Devon Street West)
- Local Markets
- Farmers' Market Taranaki (Every Sunday at Huatoki Plaza)
- Music Scene
- Vinyl Rituals and live acoustic sets at The Most FM gallery space
- Street Art
- Mural trail throughout the CBD including the 'Huairau' mural by Askew One
- Cooking Classes
- The Gables (Historic venue) occasionally hosts culinary workshops
- Art Galleries
- Koru Gallery for contemporary Maori art and jewelry
- Historic Buildings
- The White Hart Hotel (Restored 1886 Victorian building)
- Local Heritage
- Strong Maori heritage linked to Te Atiawa Iwi; Taranaki Mounga history
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Pukekura Park (Central botanical garden with lakes and tea houses)
- National Parks Nearby
- Egmont National Park (20-minute drive to the North Egmont Visitor Centre)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- New Plymouth Coastal Walkway (12.7km paved path from Port to Bell Block)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Paritutu Rock (Steep climb for a 360-degree view of city and coast)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Rotokare Scenic Reserve (inland) - a predator-free fenced sanctuary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Permits required via Fire and Emergency NZ; permitted mostly at Fitzroy Beach in winter
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- NZ Post Shop (located inside Paper Plus on Devon Street)
- Tech Repair Services
- Service Plus New Plymouth for Apple and PC repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- New Plymouth Table Tennis Association (Saxton Road South)
- Language Classes
- Taranaki English Centre for ESL learners
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Puke Ariki Library (Free high-speed WiFi and study pods)
- Community Centers
- Taranaki Community Law and Citizens Advice Bureau (Liardet Street)
- Gaming Lounges
- Next Level Games (Devon St East) for TCG and board gaming
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No casinos; gaming machines (pokies) found at Crowded House Bar